Wire twisting machine



July 14, 1942*-` G. L. wHls'r WIRE TWISTING' MAQHINE yFiled. Marcin 21, 1938 ATTORNEY uw html Q wherein the output vision of a novel vmachine v though fed in opposite direction, receives cooper- Patented July 14, 1942 Applicaton March. 21, 1938, Serial No. 197,114

' l In Germany March 25, 1937 v9 Claims. (Cl. 1153-78) 'I'he present invention relates in general to a machine for twisting wire and more particularly to a machine for twisting a substantially endless wire, having an angular cross section, about its axis in order to obtain a helically twisted wire adapted especially for use in the manufacture of drive screw nails or the like.

Machines of this type have prior to my invention been rather limited in their wire twisting capacities because of the arrangement therein of essential parts such as .the position and movement of the revolving frame or spider relative to the untwisted wire supply drum and the twisted Wire receiving drum. i v i MyI invention is an improvement upon these prior machines and more especially an improvement upon the type of wire twisting machine covered by K. J. Jensen Patent 1,998,582.

Although an embodiment of my invention may include .the valuable principle covered by said Jansen patent, i., e., the bending of the'wire partially about a roller at an acute angle to its previous direction of travel, to obtain amore uniform helical twist or that my invention is tion of the JeJnsf-:n thereof.

An object ci my invention is the provision 'of a wire twisting organized apparatus whereby and oi twisted wire is increased while the speed of the revolving twisting frame is decreased and the centrifugal frame and the parts revolving therewith `is also correspondingly decreased.

Another object of my invention is the provision of such a wire twisting `machine whereby and wherein the bodily revolution wire supply and twisted wire receivingdrums with the revolving wire twisting frame 'is entirely eliminated. f

Another object of my invention is the provision of such a machine whereby and wherein the outpitch, it is to be understood not limited by the incorporaprinciple but is independent put vis doubled without duplicating' certainl essen tial and expensive parts such as the revolving wire twisting frame, thereby eilecting a .considerable saving in the cost of the machine andin iloor space in the factory. l

Still another object of the invention is the prowhereln the wire,

ating axial twistsin the same direction to produce a finally desired helicaliy twisted wireof predetermined pitch. v

Numerous other objects and advantages ofthe of the untwisted` volving parts of the machine and to reduce its action on said bearings provided by standards l invention rwin 11e-apparent as a is better under- 55' stood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses thereof.

Referring tothe drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention-with parts in sectioniand broken away. y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vtop plan view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing wire fed from the upper unwinding or wire supply drum to the gripping roller and bending v rollers where the rst axial half twist of the wire takes place.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view taken along lines partially twisted wire wound. gripping roller and fed to the bending rollers twisting of the wire. v

The machine comprises loop or rlng-like wire twisting frame A, a stationary substantially U-shaped wire supply drum supporting frame B suspended within the frame A, untwistedwire supply drums C and'D and twisted wire receiving drums E and F, and a power connecting `drive gear G. These parts are generally supported by a number of standards resting on or being secured to a door or base H, which is recessed at I`to give clearance to reoverall height. l The frame A comprises an oblong main frame ring lor loop II and two side ring or loop frame extensions I2 and I3. Therings il, I2 and i3 have aligned bores along their longitudinal axes which provide` bearingsfor hollow shafts Il, I5, I8 and I1. The bearings provided byframe extensions I2 and I3 are keyed to the inner ends of the hollow shafts I4 vand I 'I respectively. The bearings provided by main frame II are keyed to the outer ends voi the hollow shafts I5 and I6 respectively, so that the main frame II together with frame extensions I2 and I3 revolves with the hollow shafts I4, I5, I6 and Il in unison.

The shafts I4 and I'I are revolubly mounted in I8 and I9 respectively and are provided at I4v and I 1 respectively between the stop flanges 2I and the bearings of standards I8 and I9 respectively. I

' The hollowshafts I5 and I6 terminate at their a preferred embodiment 3--3 of Fig. 1 and showing the generally a revolving their outer ends `with annular stop flanges 2|, whichare integral l `with forkedgripping roll bearing brackets 22. Driving gears 23 and 24` are keyed to the shafts mounted wire guiding idler rollers 21,

wire receiving grooves or recesses.

, and dimension to exactly t inner ends in annular stop flanges 25, which are integral with horizontal shelves or brackets 26, upon which are mounted erably in the arrangement'shown in Fig. 2.

The main frame II has securedto it upon its outer periphery forked brackets in whic are curved annular Similar cooperating wire guiding idler rollers 28 are mounted in'forked brackets secured to the inner periphery of the frame extensions I2 and I3.

Upon the inner ends of the-hollow shafts I5 and I6 are loosely mounted the bearing ends or legs of the substantially U-shaped frame B, which thus becomes non-rotatablyl suspended within frame A by its own gravity and the weight of its attachments. Centrally of this frame is flxedly mounteda vertical shaft vides a Ibearing of large drum ,D having a wire coil supporting and stop flange 3| -and a bearing of smaller diameter for the upper drum C having a wire coil supporting and stop flange 32. This arrangement permits the positioning of the filled and removal of the empty drums or reels C and D. The stationary frame B also has xedly secured to the inner periphery of its opposed legs, rigid elbow brackets 33 each having preferably a pivoted top member upon which is mounted adjacent the brackets 26, a gripping roller ceiving' groove or recess of a cross sectional shape the cross section of the wire, which may besquare, rectangular, triangular or any other suitable angular shape, so that the wire when being fed over this 'roller' 34 is held against axial rotation but is permitted to be fed onward.

Upon the outer side of standard I8 and the outer side of standard I9 are secured supporting brackets 35 and 36 respectively. Both are identical in construction and purpose and each is formed with a horizontal shelf 31 (Fig. 3) upon which are mounted a series of rollers, preferably four in number. One of these rollers, in accordance with the teachings of the Jensen patent above mentioned, may be used as a wire bending and gripping roller, i. e., to impart an acute angle' havingl or spindle 29 which pro'-4 diameter for the lower 1 34, having an annular wire rea series of rollersprefbend to the wire or direct the travel of the wire at an acute angle relative to its previous direction of travel. The roller which performs this function is designated byl reference numeral 38 (Fig. 3) Cooperating with bending and gripping roller 38 is gripping roller 39 mounted in the forked bracket 22.

that the second vhalf twist of the wire is performed, the first half twist having already taken place between gripping roller 34 and bending and gripping roller`38. y

Comparing now the gripping and bending rollers in Fig. 3 with those in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the effective wire twisting distance between the bending and gripping roller 38 and gripping roller 39 is the same as the effective wire twisting distance between gripping roller' 34 and bending and gripping roller 38', the wire being twisted while also being bent at an acute angle in each case.

The cross section ofthe annular grooves of rollers 38 and 38 may also be identical, preferably curved. The cross section of the annular recesses of rollers 39 and v34 are not identical, however, the latter rollers function being to grip against axial rotation an untwisted wire, usually of square cross section, and the roller 39 having It is between the gripping roller 39 and the bending and gripping roller 38 to grip a wire which has already received a half twist. I have found that a simple means of preventing the half twisted wire from turning axial- 1y before it reaches the proper twisting zone is lto wrap it once around the recessed roller 39 of a.

connected therewith, including gear 24 on the right hand side of the fr'ame A. Gear 24 is in meshv with gear 44 mounted on shaft 45, which has bearings in standard I9 and standard 46. The twisted wire receiving drum E secured to vertical shaft 41 is rotated through bevel gear 48 in mesh with bevel pinion 49 secured to the end of drive shaft 4I. In like manner twisted wire receiving drum F on the right hand end of the machine and secured to vertical shaft 5I is rotated through bevel gears 52-53.

The preferred practice of the method may be outlined by a brief description of the operation of the exemplified machine Fig. 1 shows in dotted lines a supply of wire 54 coiled upon the l reels or drums C and D, revolubly mounted upon the vertical spindle 29.

Following the travel of one of the wires 54 from the wire supply drum C, as an example, the wire is fed over gripping roller 34 which holds it against axial rotation but permits its onward travel over bending roller 38 (Fig. 2) which is so positioned relative to said gripping roller 34 and the remaining rollers upon shelf 26 that the wire 54 is given an acute angle bend relative to the direction of travel of the wire betweenl rollers 34 and 38. The wire is thus given its first twist between the gripping roller 34, on stationary bracket 33 and the wire bending roller 38 on revolving bracket 28. This twist imparts one-half the ultimately desired pitch per linear unit measure. I have also discovered that the effective wire twisting distance between the rollers 34 and 38 on the one hand and between the rollers 39 and 38 on the other hand should be comparatively short to insure proper twisting control and best twisting results. The wire then travels in a preferably straight line through' the remaining rollers on bracket 2B, thence through hollow shaft I6, thence over the upper idler guide roller 28 within the frame extension I3, through an oblique perforation in the frame extension I3, thence over two of the idler guide rollers 21, through anvoblique perforation of the frame extension I2, over the upper guiding roller 28 within frame extension I2, thence through the hollow shaft I4 in a direction opposite but in axial alignment with its previous travel through hollow shaft I6, thence once around the .grooved periphery of gripping roller 39 and then over the 'bending roller 38, where it is preferably again bent at an acute angle while receiving the second half twist between gripping roller 39 on the rotating bracket 22 and bending roller 38 on the lstationary bracket shelf 31 (Fig. 3) imparting to the wire the ultimately desired pitch. Thence the now finally twisted wire is fed through the remaining rollers mounted on shelf 31 and is finally wound up on f 'upon Vwliieliiiiie coils wire supply drum D is wire comingfrom tute-gripping means.

cordance with the without departing the tapered drum' iE or fedv directly into a screw Twisted wire receiving drum' n `revolving with section upon which the twisted wire Il isfcontinuou'sly-wound and of wireare continuous slipped. This type of'tapered winding drum is old and well known in the wire making art.

Since the wire coming from the lower untwisted treated in exactly the same manner and passes through identical operations, a duplication yoi description is deemed unnecessary.

From the foregoing description of the machine and its'operation it that during a single and its attachments, same direction are givenvthe wire coming from wire supply drum C at two spaced points of the machine, the nrst half y twist being imparted to the wire while it is direction of the machine, a's viewed in Fig, 1, the second half twist being exerted upon the wire while it is travelling in the opposite direction; Also, that during the samey revolution of the frame A the same will be readily understood the lower wire supply drum D. The capacity. of increased over similar machines heretofore4 used or disclosed. Also, that by this method and ar rangement the speed of revolution of the frame A is cut in half Iand the wear and tear due to centrifugal actin correspondingly decreased;

K Also, that only one frame A yand attachments are required where .duplicates were heretofore needed. Also that the wire supplydrumsor wire receiving drums need no longer be subjected to of bodily revolution and its the disadvantages attendant centrifugal wear and tear.

Instead of drums E and F, these by screw n il forming machines and the' twisted wire may be fed directly in to such screw nail machines which cutthe wire into desiredv lengths, l f form heads thereon into sharp points.

and shape the other ends It is to be understood that while I have illusa wide tapered top section revolution 'of the frame A two axial half twists in thetreatment is given to a second cylindrical narrow bottom the opposite direction,

n 'combination a revoluble I frame within said revoluble frame, a vstationary q-I claim:

` 1. A machine for twisting wire, comprising in frame, a stationary frame without said revoluble frameA for support-l ing' said revoluble trainen-leans vfor rotating'said revoluble frame and for feedinga Wire longitudinally thereof first in one direction .and then in and means mounted on said frame for twisting the wire in the same pitch vdirection once at each'direction of feed.

travelling in the right liiimlv 4 mounted upon said at each direction of feed.

2. A machine for twisting wire. comprising in combination, a revoluble frame, a stationary frame within said revoluble frame, a stationary frame without s aid revoluble frame for supporting said revoluble frame,4 a wire supply reel ilrst mentioned stationary frame'from which a wire to be twisted is fed;

wire .longitudinally thereof, iirst in one direction direction, and means mounted on said frames for twisting the wire in the same pitch direction once 3. A machine for twisting wire, comprising a 'stationary support; a rotatable frame mounted the machine is thereby greatly A the twisted wire upon the drums may be substituted trated and ,described the respective gripping means 34, and 39 as rollers, it is within the sc ope of my invention to provide any suitable substi- Also, that while I have ilf lustrated and described the rollers 38 and 38? as bending rollers, with curved wire engaging grooves to permit slipping of the wire while the latter is also being bent at an acute angle in acgripping means, themain principle being to grip the wire between 'two gripping means, a comparatively shortdistance the invention orisacricing all of itsmaterial Jensen principle, these rollers may be mere gripping rollers or other suitable apart, one revolving. n and the other being stationary.

. It is also to be understood that while I haveV guiding means line coincidental with the axis of rotation ofthe onl the support;a non-rotating frame mounted within the rotatable frame; wire gripping and guiding means for `rotating said rotatable frame; and means forfeeding a on the non-rotating frame on a rotatable fra-meto a wire gripping and guiding means on the rotatable'frame, and for further feeding the same wire from a wire gripping and guiding meanson the rotatable frame on a line coincidental vwith the axis of rotation of the roand then in the opposite mounted on said frames; means wire from a wire gripping andy means for rotating said first mentioned frame andfor feeding said tatable frame, but in a direction opposite to that of the first feeding, to a Wire gripping and guiding" means on the stationary support, whereby said wire is caused to be axially twisted twicein the same pitch direction.

4. A machine for stationary support, on said support, a non-rotating support for a plurality of reels of wire arranged to be fed to said frame, means for rotating said frame and for. feeding each of said wires over said frame, iirst in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and means including said frame for twisting one wire successively in one pitch direction once at each direction of feed and for twisting the other Vwire successively in the opposite pitch direction once at each direction of feed.

5. A machine for twisting wire, comprising a. stationary support, a rotatable frame mounted on said support, a non-rotating support for a supply of wire arranged to be fed to said frame,

twisting wire, comprising a means for rotating said frame and for feeding a 'wire 'over said frame, first in one directionv and then in another direction,

and means for gripping a portion of said wire while an adjacent portion is twisted in the same pitch direction o nce a rotatable frame mountedateach direction of feed by means of rotating with said frame.` l V 6. Apparatus 'for progressively twisting two separate substantially endless wires, comprising gripping means and twisting means, including only one rotatable frame, for simultaneously and progressively twistingl of' each other as they frame in opposite directions, and means for feedthe wires independently are fed to the rotating ing the wires to said frame in opposite directions. cooperatively with said gripping means, .said 7. Apparatus for progressively twisting twoV gripping means and said rotating means includl separate substantially endless wires, comprising ing said frame cooperatively -twisting both of only one rotatable frame, means for feeding the said wires simultaneously and independently of wires independently of each other to the ro- 5 each other to a uniform pitch'as the wires are tating, frame in opposite directions, and means fed to the rotating frame in opposite directions. partially mounted on said frame for simultane- 9. Apparatus for progressively ytwisting wire ously and progressively twisting both wires incomprising a rotatable frame, means for feeddependently of each other to a unform pitch as ing the wire to the frame successively in a pluthe wires are fed to the rotating frame in op- 10 rality of opposed directions, and means partially posite directions. mounted on the rotatable frame at each different 8. Apparatus for progressively twisting two pat-h of feed to the frame, for twisting the wire separate substantially endless wires, comprisin the same pitch direction', once at each feed ing in combination, a rotatable frame, iixedly in a different direction, as the frame is rotated supported means for gripping each of said Wires 15 and the wire fed. as each is fed to said frame, and means rotating GUNNAR L. WHST.

s with said frame for twisting each ofV said wires 

